Plow harpoon-type conveyor

ABSTRACT

An improved plow is provided for use in a harpoon-type or chip conveyor, the plow having a wide forward end and lateral walls. The lateral walls converge upwardly at the forward or leading portion of the plow and additionally converge rearwardly toward the trailing end. The plow is mounted below a supporting member in the form of a shaft or tube. In an improved embodiment the plow is made of two separate plow members mounted on the support in spaced-apart arrangement. Additionally, a longitudinal slot is provided in the lower wall of the tubular supporting member permitting the vertical flange of a T-shaped rail to be disposed in the slot and to permit the supporting member to slide on and to be guided by bearings mounted on the rail.

United States Patent [191 Becker et al.

[ 1 Dec. 11, 1973 PLOW HARPOON-TYPE CONVEYOR [75] Inventors: Roger T.Becker, Kalamazoo;

Stephen L. Hatter, Portage; Donald McMullin, Jr., Kalamazoo, all ofMich.

[73] Assignee: Kalamazoo Conveyor Company,

Kalamazoo, Mich.

[22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,732

[52] US. Cl. 198/221 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 25/08 [58] Field of Search198/221, 224

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,659,702 5/1972 Assauer198/221 3,158,257 11/1964 Peras 198/221 Primary Examiner-Richard E.Aegerter Attorney-Samuel Kurlandsky [57] ABSTRACT An improved plow isprovided for use in a harpoontype or chip conveyor, the plow having awide forward end and lateral walls. The lateral walls converge upwardlyat the forward or leading portion of the plow and additionally convergerearwardly toward the trailing end. The plow is mounted below asupporting member in the form of a shaft or tube. In an improvedembodiment the plow is made of two separate plow members mounted on thesupport in spaced-apart arrangement. Additionally, a longitudinal slotis provided in the lower wall of the tubular supporting memberpermitting the vertical flange of a T-shaped rail to be disposed in theslot and to permit the supporting member to slide on and to be guided bybearings mounted on the rail.

PLOW HARPOON-TYPE CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Harpoon-typeconveyors are finding widespread use in industry for many applications,and particularly for use in shops and factories utilizing large metalworking machines such as lathes, drill presses, planers, and grinders,where they have given excellent service .in removing waste materialssuchas metal scraps in the form of turnings or chips, either with orwithout a continuously flowing cutting oil. Certain improvements inharpoon-type conveyors are disclosed and claimed in our application forLetters Patent. Ser. No. 243,632 entitled IMPROVED HARPOON CONVEYOR" andfiled of even date. Such harpoon conveyors comprise a long continuoustrough having directional materialretaining members or barbs mounted onthe side wall thereof, a plurality of linearly arranged interconnectedplows mounted for reciprocating motion along the trough, and a powermeans, generally of the hydraulic cylinder type connected to one end ofthe assembly for reciprocating the entire train of plows backward andforward. The plows are so shaped that they engage and move the materialbeing conveyed with each forward stroke, and slide past the material tobe conveyed with each rearward stroke. The retaining members or barbscooperate on the rearward stroke to retain the conveyed material inplace. The entire trough and 'plow mechanism may be mounted below thefloor of the es tablishment as for example a machine stop, and may befed by means of ducts from each machine. The conveyor is efficient,foolproof, and reliable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture andoperate in comparison with other types of available conveyors. The useof the conveyor, particularly when mounted below floor level permitsestablishments such as machine shops to be operated under completeconditions of cleanliness. In spite of its eminent success in manyfields, the harpoontype or chip conveyor still has some deficiencies.The plows utilized in the conveyors of the prior, art have beenexceedingly heavy and cumbersome to assemble and operate, requiringhigh-pressure hydraulic equipment. It has been further found that duringoperation there is a tendency for conventional plows to become entangledin the chips being conveyed. It has further been found that theefficiency of conventional harpoon-type conveyors is less than optimum.As they travel forward they do not carry all the conveyed materialforward with the plow, and additionally result in tangling of thematerial when it is in the form of turnings or chips. Additionally, whenin the rearward portion of the reciprocating cycle, conventional plowstend to drag the material back with them. Further, conventional plowsare clumsy and heavy to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is still an additional object to provide aplow of the type described which is easier to push backward and forwardand which therefore may be suitably operated with reduced hydraulicpressure capability.

It is a further object to provide such a plow which is relatively simpleand inexpensive to manufacture and use.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the harpoon conveyor herein fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing, and thefollowing description setting forth in detail an illustrative embodimentof the invention, such disclosed embodiment illustrating, however, butone of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may beused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the improved plow and supporting memberaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2' is a side elevational view of the plow shown mounted on aT-shaped rail.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the plow.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the plow mounted on a T-shapedrail; and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the plow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a plowassembly 10 is shown comprising a tubular supporting member 11 having apair of plow members 12 and 13 affixed to the sides thereof by means ofwelding beads 14 and 15. The plow members 12 and 13 have forward orleading end walls 16 and 17, respectively, each in the form of a rampwhich is inclined rearwardly. The plow members 12 and 13 have lateralwalls 18 and 19 which are provided with diagonal recesses 20 and 21,respectively. Forward portions of the lateral walls 22 and 23 areinclined or converge upwardly toward each other at an angle of aboutwith respect to the horizontal base of the plow members 12 and 13. Thediagonal recesses 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. 2, are oriented from anupper forward position down to a lower rearward position. As a result ofthis structure, the lateral wall in the intermediate portions 24 and 25thereof take on an outwardly concave form, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Asthe lateral walls 18 and 19 progress further rearwardly and reach therearward portions 26 and 27, they are almost vertical with respect tothe horizontal base on which the plow rests. At the end of the plowthere are provided trailing end walls 28 and 29 which converge towardeach other rearwardly at an angle substantially greater than that atwhich the side walls converge.

In order that they may be welded to the contour of the tubularsupporting member 11 the plow members 12 and 13 are provided withforward end wall recesses 30 and 31 (FIG. 1), lateral wall recesses 32and 33 (FIG. 3), and trailing end wall recesses 34 and 35 (FIG. 6). Thewelding bead l4 and 15 is laid along these recesses.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the overall form of the plow is that of atriangular pyramid. The front wall of the plow is formed by the forwardend walls 16 and I7, and

shown is inclined rearwardly. The lateral walls 18 and 19 are in partinclined upwardly and converge toward each other, with the change ininclination caused by the existence of the diagonal recesses 20 and 21resulting in an outwardly concave shape in the central portions of thelateral walls, as shown in FIG. 3. The trailing end walls convergetoward each other at a somewhat increased angle. As seen in FIG. 4, thebase of the plow is almost in the form of an isosceles triangle with thetrailing end walls breaking the lines slightly to increase theconvergence. The plow is widest at its forward end, the widthcontinually decreasing toward the rear portion thereof. If desired theplow may be extended above the supporting member 11.

The plow of the present invention may be utilized with any of varioustypes of harpoon conveyor mounting structures. One such structure isshown in FIGS. 2, 4 and S and comprises a trough 38 having a flat bottom39 and diverging side walls 40 terminating in vertical side walls (notshown). Material retaining members or barbs 41 are dispersed at variouspositions along the side walls 40 and serve to retain the conveyedmaterial such as chips in place while the plow goes through its rearwardportion of the reciprocating cycle. The plows are supported on aninverted T-shaped rail 42 having a bottom plate 43 and a vertical flange44. A longitudinal slot 45 is provided along the entire length of thetubular supporting member 11 so that the supporting member slides overthe vertical flange 44, with the vertical flange 44 extending throughthe slot 45 and into the axial channel of the supporting member. Bearingcollars 46' having slots provided therein are mounted within the axialchannel of the supporting member 11 and with the vertical flange 44extending through the slot and engaging the opposite side wall of thebearing collar 46. The bearing collar 46 is affixed to the verticalflange 44 by means of a roll pin or spiral pin 47 extending throughholes 48 in the bearing collar 46, and through a hole 49 provided in thevertical flange 44.

In assembling the harpoon conveyor of the present invention, a trough isfirst constructed and placed, either above or below floor level, in thedesired location. The rail 42 is then placed in and affixed to thebottom of the trough. A plurality of plows are then placed in positionover the rail and affixed in place by means of the bearing collars 46and roll pins 47. A reciprocating power means, as for example ahydraulic reciprocating cylinder and connecting rod is positioned at oneend of the conveyor and imparts a reciprocating motion to the entiretrain of plows. As the plows move rearwardly, because of their generalshape and particularly because the rearward portion is narrower than theforward portion, the plows slide past the conveyed material held back bythe retaining members 41 in the trough. However, on the forward motionthe material is engaged by the wide forward or leading end of the plow.Consequently in the forward stroke the material is moved forward. On thesubsequent rearward stroke, the material remains in place, and thenmoves still further forward on the successive forward stroke. Eventuallyall the conveyed material is collected and transferred to the remote endof the trough and discharged into a suitable hopper or container.

The plow of the present invention has many advantages over conventionalplows utilized in harpoon-type conveyors. Because of the particularcontours of the plow, dramatically improved material flow through the 7conveyor is obtained. Because of the improved efficiency, satisfactoryoperation may be obtained even with reduced hydraulic pressureequipment. The plow completely eliminates problems previouslyencountered with material such as bar ends. The plow members may be madeof light metal such as aluminum, with consequent reduction in wear onbushings and bearings. The structure of the plow results in substantialcost savings in materials and assembly. Because of the tapered form ofthe plow in the rearward direction, back movement of the conveyedmaterial on the reverse stroke is largely eliminated. On the forwardmotion, because the leading end is rearwardly inclined, a lifting motionis imparted to the conveyed material and prevents an impacting wedgemovement which would occur if the forward wall were vertical.

While but only one of the embodiments of the invention has been shownand described, other equivalent forms will now be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the embodiment shown in the drawing ismerely diagrammatic and for illustrative purposes, and is not intendedto limit the spirit and scope of the invention as above described andillustrated in the drawing.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in the formof structure in which the plow is susbstantially below the supportingmember, additional plow members of various forms may be mounted on thetubular supporting member 11 above the lower plow if desired.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A plow assembly for use in a harpoon-type conveyor, comprising:

a. a supporting member,

b. a plow affixed thereto and disposed substantially below saidsupporting member having a forward end adapted to be positioned to pushmaterial to be conveyed in a forward direction along the conveyor on theforward stroke, and a rear or trailing end adapted to slide past thematerial to be conveyed on the rearward stroke, comprising:

1. a relatively wide forward end wall adapted to engage and push forwardmaterial to be conveyed,

2. a pair of lateral walls converging toward each other rearwardly andhaving a forward portion of each lateral wall adjacent said forward endwall converging upwardly with respect to each other over substantiallythe entire height of said lateral walls.

2. A plow assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lateral walls havetrailing members at the rearward end of said plow converging rearwardlywith respect to each other at a greater angle than the rearwardconvergence of the forward portion of said lateral walls.

3. A plow assembly according to claim 1, wherein said forward end wallis inclined rearwardly over substantially the entire height thereof,thereby imparting a lifting movement to the material being conveyed.

4. A plow assembly according to claim 1, wherein the intermediateportions of said lateral walls are concave outwardly.

5. A plow assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lateral walls eachhave a diagonal recess provided therein substantially connecting theupper front corners thereof to the lower rear corners thereof, wherebythe forward and lower portions of said lateral walls have a greaterangle of convergence upwardly, and the upward and rearward portions ofsaid lateral walls have a smaller angle of convergence upwardly withrespect to each other.

6. A plow assembly for use in a harpoon-type conveyor which comprises atrough of generally U-shape, guide means disposed along said trough, andat least one plow slidably mounted on said guide means, said plow havinga forward end positioned to push material to be conveyed in a forwarddirection on the forward stroke of said plow, and a rear or trailing endpositioned to slide past the material to be conveyed on the rearwardstroke, said plow comprising:

a. an elongate supporting member, and

b. a pair of complementary cooperating plow members affixed thereto anddisposed substantially below said supporting member, each plow membercomprising:

1. a forward end wall adapted to engage and push forward material to beconveyed, and v 2. a lateral wall, the lateral walls of said plowmembers converging with respect to each other rearwardly and the forwardportions of said lateral walls adjacent said forward end wallsconverging upwardly with respect to each other over substantially theentire height of said lateral walls.

7. A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein said lateral walls havetrailing members at the rearward end of said plows converging rearwardlywith respect to each other at a greater angle than the rearwardconvergence of the forward portion of said lateral walls.

8. A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein said forward end wallsare inclined rearwardly over substantially the entire height thereof,thereby imparting a lifting movement to the material being conveyed.

9. A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein the intermediateportions of said lateral walls are concave outwardly.

10. A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein said lateral wallseach have a diagonal recess provided therein substantially connectingthe upper front corners thereof to the lower rear corners thereof,whereby the forward and lower portions of said lateral walls have agreater angle of convergence upwardly with'respect to each other and theupward and rearward portions of said lateral walls have a smaller angleof convergence upwardly with respect to each other.

11. A plow assembly for use in a harpoon-type conveyor which comprises atrough of generally U-shape, guide means disposed along said trough inthe form of an inverted-T rail having a bottom plate and a verticalflange, and at least one plow slidably mounted on said guide means, saidplow having a forward end positioned to push material to be conveyed ina forward direction on the forward stroke of said plow assembly, and arear or trailing end positioned to slide past the material to beconveyed on the rearward stroke, said plow comprising:

a. a tubular supporting member having a longitudinal slot provided inthe lower wall thereof and extend ing along the entire length of saidsupporting member, and

b. a pair of complementary cooperating plow members affixed thereto anddisposed substantially below said supporting member and beingsufficiently spaced-apart to permit the vertical flange of said guidemeans to extend therebetween and to be inserted in the longitudinal slotof said supporting member, said plow member comprising:

1. a forward end wall adapted to engage and push forward material to beconveyed, and

2. a lateral wall, the lateral walls of said plow members convergingtoward each other rearwardly and the forward portions of said lateralwalls adjacent said forward end walls converging upwardly with respectto each other over the entire height of said lateral walls.

12. A plow assembly according to claim 11, wherein said lateral wallshave trailing members'at the rearward end of said plows convergingrearwardly with respect to each other at a greater angle than that ofthe rearward convergence of the forward portion of said lateral walls.

13. A plow assembly according to claim 11, wherein said forward endwalls are inclined rearwardly over substantially the entire heightthereof, thereby imparting a lifting movement to the material beingconveyed.

14. A plow assembly according to claim 11, wherein said lateral wallseach have a diagonal recess provided therein substantially connectingthe upper front corners thereof to the lower rear corners thereof,whereby the forward and lower portions of said lateral walls have agreater angle of convergence upwardly with respect to each other and theupward and rearward portions of said lateral walls have a smaller angleof convergence upwardly with respect to each other.

15. A plow assembly according to claim 11, wherein said plow members areformed of aluminum.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,777,Dated December 973 l ve t r( Roger T. Becker et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the title, delete "Plow Harpoon-Type Conveyor",

and insert Plow for Harpoon-Type Conveyor it'led and sealed this 1st dayof April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. Z-ASON Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer and Trademarks FORM Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC scan-Pee ".5.GOVIINMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I," O-lGi-SS,

1. A plow assembly for use in a harpoon-type conveyor, comprising: a. asupporting member, b. a plow affixed thereto and disposed substantiallybelow said supporting member having a forward end adapted to bepositioned to push material to be conveyed in a forward direction alongthe conveyor on the forward stroke, and a rear or trailing end adaptedto slide past the material to be conveyed on the rearward stroke,comprising:
 1. a relatively wide forward end wall adapted to engage andpush forward material to be conveyed,
 2. a pair of lateral wallsconverging toward each other rearwardly and having a forward portion ofeach lateral wall adjacent said forward end wall converging upwardlywith respect to each other over substantially the entire height of saidlateral walls.
 2. a pair of lateral walls converging toward each otherrearwardly and having a forward portion of each lateral wall adjacentsaid forward end wall converging upwardly with respect to each otherover substantially the entire height of said lateral walls.
 2. A plowassembly according to claim 1, wherein said lateral walls have trailingmembers at the rearward end of said plow converging rearwardly withrespect to each other at a greater angle than the rearward convergenceof the forward portion of said lateral walls.
 2. a lateral wall, thelateral walls of said plow members converging with respect to each otherrearwardly and the forward portions of said lateral walls adjacent saidforward end walls converging upwardly with respect to each other oversubstantially the entire height of said lateral walls.
 2. a lateralwall, the lateral walls of said plow members converging toward eachother rearwardly and the forward portions of said lateral walls adjacentsaid forward end walls converging upwardly with respect to each otherover the entire height of said lateral walls.
 3. A plow assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said forward end wall is inclinedrearwardly over substantially the entire height thereof, therebyimparting a lifting movement to the material being conveyed.
 4. A plowassembly according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions of saidlateral walls are concave outwardly.
 5. A plow assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said lateral walls each have a diagonal recess providedtherein substantially connecting the upper front corners thereof to thelower rear corners thereof, whereby the forward and lower portions ofsaid lateral walls have a greater angle of convergence upwardly, and theupward and rearward portions of said lateral walls have a smaller angleof convergence upwardly with respect to each other.
 6. A plow assemblyfor use in a harpoon-type conveyor which comprises a trough of generallyU-shape, guide means disposed along said trough, and at least one plowslidably mounted on said guide means, said plow having a forward endpositioned to push material to be conveyed in a forward direction on theforward stroke of said plow, and a rear or trailing end positioned toslide past the material to be conveyed on the rearward stroke, said plowcomprising: a. an elongate supporting member, and b. a pair ofcomplementary cooperating plow members affixed thereto and disposedsubstantially below said supporting member, each plow member comprising:7. A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein said lateral wallS havetrailing members at the rearward end of said plows converging rearwardlywith respect to each other at a greater angle than the rearwardconvergence of the forward portion of said lateral walls.
 8. A plowassembly according to claim 6, wherein said forward end walls areinclined rearwardly over substantially the entire height thereof,thereby imparting a lifting movement to the material being conveyed. 9.A plow assembly according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate portionsof said lateral walls are concave outwardly.
 10. A plow assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein said lateral walls each have a diagonalrecess provided therein substantially connecting the upper front cornersthereof to the lower rear corners thereof, whereby the forward and lowerportions of said lateral walls have a greater angle of convergenceupwardly with respect to each other and the upward and rearward portionsof said lateral walls have a smaller angle of convergence upwardly withrespect to each other.
 11. A plow assembly for use in a harpoon-typeconveyor which comprises a trough of generally U-shape, guide meansdisposed along said trough in the form of an inverted-T rail having abottom plate and a vertical flange, and at least one plow slidablymounted on said guide means, said plow having a forward end positionedto push material to be conveyed in a forward direction on the forwardstroke of said plow assembly, and a rear or trailing end positioned toslide past the material to be conveyed on the rearward stroke, said plowcomprising: a. a tubular supporting member having a longitudinal slotprovided in the lower wall thereof and extending along the entire lengthof said supporting member, and b. a pair of complementary cooperatingplow members affixed thereto and disposed substantially below saidsupporting member and being sufficiently spaced-apart to permit thevertical flange of said guide means to extend therebetween and to beinserted in the longitudinal slot of said supporting member, said plowmember comprising:
 12. A plow assembly according to claim 11, whereinsaid lateral walls have trailing members at the rearward end of saidplows converging rearwardly with respect to each other at a greaterangle than that of the rearward convergence of the forward portion ofsaid lateral walls.
 13. A plow assembly according to claim 11, whereinsaid forward end walls are inclined rearwardly over substantially theentire height thereof, thereby imparting a lifting movement to thematerial being conveyed.
 14. A plow assembly according to claim 11,wherein said lateral walls each have a diagonal recess provided thereinsubstantially connecting the upper front corners thereof to the lowerrear corners thereof, whereby the forward and lower portions of saidlateral walls have a greater angle of convergence upwardly with respectto each other and the upward and rearward portions of said lateral wallshave a smaller angle of convergence upwardly with respect to each other.15. A plow assembly according to claim 11, wherein said plow members areformed of aluminum.